Tools for adaptive management

Ecosystem conceptual models

Parks Victoria has developed ecosystem conceptual models for the nine natural ecosystems that occur across Victoria (White 2010). For each ecosystem the conceptual models identify values, threats, processes and drivers of ecosystem health, as well as potential management responses or interventions.

Conceptual models form the foundation for development of Ecological Management Systems.

Levels of Protection

Levels of Protection (LoP) is a tool Parks Victoria uses to plan and allocate resources by placing individual parks in a statewide context. Parks are grouped according to biodiversity and broad conservation objectives are allocated to each group.

LoP sets out management responses in a hierarchy so management and resourcing priorities can be determined. It allows for protected area planning and management to be conducted in a bioregional context.

LoP uses common elements advocated in the state and national biodiversity strategies.

Conservation objectives for parks

Parks Victoria is developing clear and measurable goals and objectives for the management of natural assets and threats to parks.

Conservation objectives state the desired condition of natural values in a park or parks which we are trying to achieve. Without clear objectives, evaluation and monitoring is unlikely to be able to answer the fundamental question of: How effective is our management?

A conservation objectives hierarchy for adaptive management has been developed.

Parks Victoria is inviting the public to comment on proposed revisions to existing and planned boating and swimming zones in Port Phillip and Western Port as part of an ongoing review to improve boating and swimming zones and public safety on the water. “It’s important that boating and swimming zones…